Guest Column: A Better Strategy for Addressing Jails During a Pandemic



The Victoria Advocate- For better or worse, catastrophes offer opportunities one would never have under normal circumstances. Or as politician Rahm Emanuel often says, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” This concept has been implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, as bail reform advocates push for the release of large numbers of the jail population on the grounds of compassion.

Over the last month, reformers have bullied elected officials with threats of litigation unless their demands for large-scale release were met. Advocates have even taken the offensive, asking federal courts to order the release of inmates through the filing of lawsuits. But their urgency may well be misplaced. According to a recent Reuter’s story, 96 percent of the inmate population that tested positive for the coronavirus in Arkansas, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia jails showed no symptoms.

The COVID-19 crisis cannot be treated as some sort of “get-out-of-jail-free card.” 

To see more CLICK HERE.

Comments

Post a Comment

Most Read Posts Over The Last 30 Days

The Bail Post Podcast- Episode No. 61- United States v. Lozier- Recovery Agent Conviction Reversed With Guest Cal Williams

Image
On this episode of The Bail Post we discuss an important case involving a recovery agent who was licensed in Louisiana.  A defendant who was charged with a misdemeanor failed to appear for court and then went to the state of Missouri where she was staying at the time she was filed.  The recovery agent and his partner traveled to Missouri, took the defendant into their custody and began traveling back to Louisiana.  The defendant was eventually dropped off at a sheriff's office in Mississippi.  The two recovery agents were charged with federal kidnapping charges because they crossed state lines.  One of the recovery agents plead guilty and was given probation.  The other went to trial and was convicted and given a sentence of 10 years.   The case was appealed because of the jury instructions given by the trial court.   Join us to find out why the court of appeals reversed the case and what the future holds for the recovery agent. Audio Podcast- Als...
Read more

The Untold Story- Selling Out Public Safety One District Attorney at a Time

Image
The Untold Story- Selling Out Public Safety One District Attorney at a Time By Eric Granof History is full of examples where good intentions paved the way to disastrous outcomes.  Today, we are witnessing another such moment -- a social experiment in criminal justice reform that has unleashed unforeseen consequences on our urban communities. This experiment was built on two flawed premises.  The first was that bail is unnecessary and people would voluntarily appear in court without financial incentives.  The second was that “soft-on-crime” policies would not lead to increased criminal activity.  Both assumptions have proven catastrophically wrong, but the damage has already been done. A group of individuals advocating bail reform -- and criminal justice reform in general -- established a network of groups to push a series of initiatives.  It was funded by a small number of extremely deep-pocketed foundations and wealthy billionaires.  Among them, the Open S...
Read more

Episode No. 58- D.A. Kim Ogg Tells All: Progressive Lies, Political Agendas and Increasing Crime

Image
  Our guest on this episode of The Bail Post is the sitting district attorney for Harris County- Kim Ogg.  D.A. Ogg was first elected to become district attorney in 2016 with the support of a Soros political group.  She was re-elected in 2020 without the support of a Soros political group. D.A. Ogg was present for all the inside political discussions for criminal justice reform/bail reform in Harris County.  D.A. Ogg initially supported the reforms, but once she concluded that the proposed reforms went too far, she opposed them. On this episode of The Bail Post D.A. Ogg tells all.  Join us and see if you come to the same conclusion that we did-  Wow! Audio Podcast- Also available on: Apple Podcasts-            CLICK HERE Spotify-                        CLICK HERE Google Podcasts-        CLICK HERE Podcast Index- ...
Read more

Nathan Hochman Takes Office As New LA District Attorney- Hits the Ground Running

Image
  In his first two days in office, new Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has rolled back on progressive policies backed by former district attorney George Gascón. “I’ll be prioritizing public safety while ensuring real and effective criminal justice reform,” Hochman said in a recent interview with Annenberg Media. “I believe you can do both at the same time.” Hochman’s first changes expanded the power of L.A. County prosecutors to enforce harsher sentences for crimes. This included dismantling Gascón’s Proposition 47, which stated that certain non-violent offenses, including stealing merchandise under the value of $950, would be reclassified as misdemeanors rather than felonies. Hochman backed Proposition 36, which passed into law on November 5. This legislation aimed to reinforce strict penalties for repeat offenders, specifically in regard to theft and drug-related crimes. Gascón’s restrictions on applying gang-related sentence enhancements . . . To see more CLI...
Read more

Defeated Oregon District Attorney Seeks Release of 8 Violent Offenders Before Leaving Office

Image
Multnomah County, Soft on Crime, District Attorney Mike Schmidt, who was voted out of office on Election Day, petitioned an Oregon judge on Monday to reconsider the sentences of eight individuals – which could result in reduced charges and see the convicts freed from prison.     “These have all the appearance of a last-minute giveaway,” Multnomah County District Attorney-elect Nathan Vasquez, the Republican-turned-independent who defeated Schmidt, told the outlet.  “They’re extremely violent individuals who have committed horrible crimes, and they’re being given some kind of a break,” added Vasquez, who starts his term on Jan. 6.  Frank Swopes, Jr. Frank Swopes Jr., who was convicted of felony murder for the death of 75-year-old Jean Stevenson during a December 1993 home invasion, is among the violent offenders Schmidt is seeking to free.  Swopes Jr., 62, went on to commit another violent crime just a week after his accomplice killed Stevenson by pushing he...
Read more

Stories by Topic:

Show more